on October 23, 2007
by staff in Latest,
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Romanoff Report – Oct 23

Will legislate for peanuts and cracker jack.

ON DECK

Some don’t care if we never get back, but the General Assembly is required to reconvene. The opening pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

What issues would you like us to take up? There are several ways you can let us know:

Sound off.

Reps. Randy Fischer and John Kefalas and I will host a town meeting on Saturday, November 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the Fort Collins Main Library, 201 Peterson St., Fort Collins.

Sen. Chris Romer and I will host a town meeting on Monday, November 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St., Denver (one block south of Alameda, between Downing and University).

Both of these events are free and open to the public. For more information, call 303-866-2346.

Drop in.

I’ve temporarily moved my office and my open-office hours. Please stop by Room 222 (in the northwest corner of the Capitol, on the second floor) between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 25 or Thursday, November 1.

Log on.

Email your questions to [email protected]. Additional staff contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter. (I read all of the messages I receive at [email protected], but I cannot always respond personally and promptly – much less persuasively – to each.)

Two other meetings to note:

Healthy Mountain Communities will host the 5th Annual “State of the Valley Symposium: Tools and Strategies for State and Regional Prosperity” on Friday, October 26, at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs. Topics include energy development, affordable housing, and constitutional reform. Click here for more details.

The House District 6 Democrats will gather on Saturday, October 27, at 9:15 a.m., at the Washington Park United Church of Christ, 400 S. Williams St. Speakers will discuss the Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform and Instant Run-off Voting, among other issues.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

You may need a pencil and paper for this part. In the past six weeks, one legislator left office, another packed his bags, and a third switched parties. Now quick: How many legislators does it take to screw in a low-energy light bulb?

In Denver, a Democratic vacancy committee chose Mark Ferrandino to replace outgoing Rep. Mike Cerbo, the new head of the Colorado AFL-CIO. In Colorado Springs, a Republican vacancy committee will meet next month to select a replacement for Sen. Ron May, who announced his resignation last week. If Rep. Bill Cadman wins the nod, as expected, his post would also be filled by a vacancy committee; El Paso County Commissioner Doug Bruce is among the likely candidates for Rep. Cadman’s House seat.

And in Aurora, Rep. Debbie Stafford joined the Democratic Party. Rep. Stafford, whose district includes Arapahoe and Elbert counties, is serving her fourth and final term in the House. Sunday’s Denver Post covered her decision.

As for the legislative lighting, former Rep. Tom Plant – now director of the Governor’s Energy Office – recently saw a longtime pet project near completion. The Capitol is being retrofitted with donated low-energy bulbs. Click here to learn how you can curb your consumption, too.

LIGHTS! CAMERA! FLOOR ACTION!

Just when you thought you’d seen it all …

The legislature’s executive committee voted earlier this month to expose the House of Representatives – on TV! (The Senate is not quite ready for its close-up; we’re still trying to raise enough money to televise that chamber.)

Beginning in January, floor proceedings will be carried live on both a Comcast cable channel and a streaming video webcast. An archive will also be available, on TV and on the Internet, for viewers to search.

More than 400 people took part in an online survey to name our new (and as yet unnumbered) channel. “Colorado Open House” was the most popular choice. Special thanks – and, at the moment, very little else – go to Dixie Good, Daniel Nolan, Jan Tanner, Janet Brooks, Rick Schoenhals, Tricia Olson, Dean Woodward, Bud Stodghill, Stewart Levin, Susan Graber, Shirley O’Connor, Hal Worth, and Paul and Sue Brown, all of whom submitted versions of the winning entry. If the show survives its first season, I’ll make sure you’re first in line for “Colorado Open House” gear.

(I would also like to thank Terence Long for suggesting “Romo-Vision.” That was just a little too self-serving for my taste – and far too tempting a target for my friends.)